civil marriages

Despite widespread protests and more than 19 states barring same sex marriages, many licensed professional counselors are now offering gay-lesbian-specific sessions and even pre marriage counseling. Whether it’s called a “marriage,” a “domestic partnership” or a “civil union,” this new market is opening to ensure healthy relationships and normalized households. As more gay couples opt for adoption and child rearing, it’s become increasingly more important for a family marriage counselor to offer same sex couple services too.

In some ways, a same sex marriage will suffer the same trials and tribulations as their heterosexual counterpart, as both will argue about finances, power struggles, household chores, child rearing, autonomy and intimacy. Also, a 2008 study by the American Psychological Association found that same sex couples are just as happy and committed in their romantic relationships as heterosexual couples.

However, there are also a few differences between those in same sex marriages and those in heterosexual marriages. For instance, gay and lesbian couples fight less over finances because they’re more likely to have two incomes and separate bank accounts. Instead of finances, power struggles are the most common source of conflict for same sex couples. Even so, gay and lesbian couples have a more egalitarian division of labor, more autonomy and higher levels of positive problem solving than their heterosexual counterparts. While same sex couples may have an advantage over heterosexual couples, it is still recommended that they see certified counselors before tying the knot to perfect their communication and problem solving skills to weather the complex issues that may come their way.

No doubt, those in same sex marriages face a set of unique issues that heterosexual couples do not. For instance, gay unions are not normalized and therefore these couples may not feel the social pressure to stay together. These couples are already labeled “deviant” by the majority of society, whether they break up or remain together. They may also face public persecution or scrutiny from disapproving family members.

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